Display device



llg- 22, 1933 l w. E. scHwANHAussER 1,923,398

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 18, 1932 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 usarse sagem ienne estirar orifice.

DISPLAY DEVICE Walter lll.Y Schwanllausser, Maplewood, N. J.v

Application April 18, 1932. kSerial No. 606,017y

19 Claims. (Cl. 40-53) .This invention relates to display devices or advertising machines wherein a panorama ofl reading matter or pictures on a movable strip is brought into view and relates more specifically to devices of this kind especially designed for use in taxi cabs and other` installations where the space available is restricted.

One feature of the invention lies in the means used to make the device automatic so that when l0 the strip passed entirely through the machine from one spool onto another` it is reversed in direction and the display is therefore made continuous.

Another feature consists in the novel way of disconnecting the spool, having the strip wound upon it, from the driving mechanism so the strip can be unwound therefrom at any speed.

Another Yfeature is the driving mechanism which is commonfor both spools and the means Another feature of the machine lies in a novel method of reversing the motor by means of an arm pivoted to the spool and which is held in position by the windings of the strip on the spool in such a way that when the strip is .entirely unwound from the spool the arm is permitted to move radially outward from the spool and engage the motor reversing` mechanism.

Additional novel features will be brought out in the following description.

Referring to the drawing, Figurel shows a front view of the device, partly in section. Figure 2 shows a top view of Figure 1 through section AA. Figure 3 showsy a sectional view of one of the spools in modiiied'form throughsection BB. Figure flshows a side View of Figure 3.-

V'Iheadvertising device is entirely enclosed in casing, 1, having an opening in the front thereof,

2, at the rear of which is suitably mounted a transparent sheet ofk material, 3, such as glass or Celluloid, etc. secured to the casing, 1, by a suitable frame, 1i. The top, 5, of casing, 1, constitutes a support upon which the inner mecha- J nism of the device is secured and supported.

Near each end lof the casing, 1, is mounted a stationary shaft, 6, secured to the top, 5, of the casing in any suitable way such as by nuts, 7. Mounted upon this shaft, 6, is-provided a sleeve, 8, free to rotate thereon. The sleeve supports a pinion; 9, secured thereto with which there is engaged a chain, 19, connecting the pinion, 9, of one shaft to that of the other at the opposite end of the casing, and forms a means whereby the two sleeves, 8, are at all times simultaneously operated. At the center of the casing, l,

for selecting which spool is to be driven thereby.

and between the shafts, 6, is located a motor, 1l, having a shaft, 12, provided with a'worm, 13, engaged with a worm wheel, 14, mounted upon a shaft, 15, and having a bearing support, 15. The opposite end of the shaft, 15, is provided with a small pinion, 17, meshed with a large pinion, 18, the latter being secured to said sleeve, 8. It is obvious that as the motor, 11,` rotates, the sleeve, 8, is 4simultaneously rotated therewith but with a very much reduced speed. Mountedin front of the motor is provided an electric switch, 19, having a controlling arm, 20.` A bar, 21, is provided with spaced extensions, 22, between which the arm, 20, is mounted in such away that as the bar, 21, is longitudinally 70, moved on itsV bearings, 23, the arm, 20, will be lshifted from position shown in Figure `1 to a corresponding opposite position, whereby the switch, 19, is `caused to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor, 11, and thereby reverse the rotation of sleeves, 8. v

Each sleeve, 8, is provided with a flange, 24, having an eccentric bearing, 25, A shaft, 26, is mounted in said bearing, 25, and has at its upper end a member, 27, having at one side a projection finger, 28. The rlower endof the shaft, 26, vis provided with an arm, 29, free tov be moved alternately into the positions shown in igure 2, wherein the arm, 29, in the left hand part of the figure, is shown moved outwardly 85 away from the shaft, 6, whereas in the right hand part the arm, 29, has been moved inwardly toward the shaft, 6. v

Mounted upon the top, 5, near each end of .the device is provided a stud, 30, having movably mounted thereon, at its lower "end, a member31, having a linger, 32, extending radially toward the shaft, 6. A suitable spring, 33, resiliently maintains the position of finger, 32, in the position shown. Acotter pin, 30', or other1 suitable means, secures' the member, 31, in its vertical position on the stud, 30. Rotatably mounted near each end of the device-is a spool upon which the advertising strip, 39, wound, the spools `are supported upon the shafts, 6. Each spool is formed by a cylinder, 34, having at its upper end an' outwardly extending flange,

34', and at its lower end an internal flange, 34:, and another internal flange, 37, at its upper end. The flanges, 34" and 37, are provide at their centers with openings through which the shafts, 6, pass to support thespools. A y spring washer, 35, is mounted 4on each shaft, 6, and resiliently'presses the spool upward, a pin 36, is provided at the end of the shaft, s, to 110 maintain the spool in position on the shaft, 6. The openings in the centers of the flanges, 34 and 37, constitute bearings upon `which the spools rotate on the shafts6. On the inside of cylinder, 34, above fiange, 37, are circumferentially mounted several ratchet projections, 38, formed of a strip of suitable material bent in the shape shown in Figure 2, the ends of which are secured to the inside of the cylinder, 34, by spot welding or by any other suitable means. The ratchets, 38, are assembled in the path of the arm, 29, as shown in Figure 1, and in the position shown in the left hand side of Figure 2 the arm, 29, is in engagement with one of the ratchets, 38, so that in this position the arm, 29, is driving the left hand spool, and also the right hand sleeve by means of the chain, 10,

in a clockwise direction, and causing the strip, 39, to travel from the right hand spool to the left hand spool. During this time the position of arm, 29, on the right hand spool has been released from its ratchets, 38, and permits the right hand spool to be rotated by the strip, 39, as it is being unwound from it, the arm, 29, in

this position being adjusted against the sleeve, 8.

How the position of the arm29, is automatically determined by thek direction of rotation of the spool kwill now be described.

It is readily .seen that as the spool rotates the projection finger, 28, on arm, 29, engages one side or the other of nger, 32, depending upon its direction of rotation. Referring to Figure 2, itis readily seen that if the sleeve, 8, is rotatedv in a clockwise direction the arm, 29,

" .will be moved into the position shown on the left hand sideof Figurel 2, by the nger,`28, engaging the finger, 32, and rotating the shaft, 26, to which arm, 29, issecured; whereas' if the sleeve, 8, is moved in a counter clockwise direction of rotation the finger, 28, will engage all speeds.

the finger, 32, on the opposite side and the arm, 29., will be moved to the position shown on the right hand side of Figure 2.

It is readily seen that as the strip, 39, is

- wound from one spool to the other the relative diameters of the outside windings determine the speedof rotation of thedriven spool, rotated bythe pull of the strip, 39. The spool when it is. driven is,4 of course, disconnected entirely from the motor drive and is free to rotate at TheV speed of the driven spool be-y comes greater thanthat of the driving spool when more of the strip, 39, is-wound on the driving spool than on the driven spool and this ynecessitates. the arm, 29, to be automatically adjusted in its ineffective position shown in the right spool` in Figure 2. It this were not done and.- the arm, 29, left in the position-shown in the left hand spool, the ratchets, 38, would be driven hard against the end of the arm, 29, and

f Figure 2 when the strip, 39, is wound on the spool. The bell crank, 41, has. another member,

- 41', provided withl an inwardly extending tere In the positionl minal, 44, shown in Figure 2. shown on the left. hand side of the Figure 2 the terminal, 44, bears againstr the inner side of the first layer of the strip, 39, on the cylinder, 34. It is obvious that, as the strip, 39, is entirely unwound from the spool, the bell crank, 41, will be moved by the spring, 43, to extend the member, 43', and terminal, 44, outwardly beyond the outer surface of the cylinder, 34, as shown in position of parte on the right hand side of Figure 2. A suitable opening is made in the side of the cylinder, 34, to permit this motion ofl the arm, 43, and the terminal, 44. In the position shown in Figure 2, thestrip, 39, has been unwound from the right hand spool onto the left hand spool and the bell crank, 41, has been moved into the position shown in Figure 2 whereby the terminal, 44, will engage the right hand end of the reciprocable bar, 21, to move it longitudinally to the left and thereby reverse the direction of the motor.

v'Ihe send of the strip, 39, passes through a slot, 45, in the cylinder, 34, as shown in Figure 2, and a sticker or small'strip of-.paper or other material, 46, may be glued across the face of the slot, 45, to secure the strip, 39, in position on the spool. Upon the reversal of the motor,

r1l, through the longitudinal movement of the bar, 21, the right hand spool in Figure 2 becomes the driver and the left hand spool becomes the driven spool and is entirely disconnected from the driving system as already explained. This reversal of rotation of the spools causes the strip, 39, to pass from the left hand spool to the right hand spool and as it does so the strip, 39, presses the member, 41', of the bell crank, 41, back through the opening, 56, within the contour of the cylinder, 34, so that the right hand spool may now freely rotate without engaging the bar, 21. Upon the reversal of the motor, 11,`the right handsleeve, v8, has its direction of rotation reversed so that the arm, 29, which up to this time occupied the position shown on the right hand side of Figure 2 isV moved automatically by means of the projection, 28, coming in contact with finger, 32, whereby the outer end of the arm, 29, is brought into engagement with one or another of the ratchets, 38, thereby causing the spool to be driven by the sleeve, 8.

In some instances it ispreferable to do away with the stud, 30, and the parts supported thereby and use the method shown in Figures 4 andy 5 for Areversing the position of the arm, 29. Iny this case the stationary shaft, 6, has secured thereto a pinion, 47, not free to rotate. En-

gaged with pinion, 47, is a second pinion, 48,

suitably supported on a shaft, 49, mounted in the flange, 24.- Meshed with the second pinion,

48, is a third pinion, 55, against the side of which bears they arm, 29, so that the position of the arm, 29, isfrictionally determined by the direction ofthe rotation of pinion, 49.y The arm, 29, is rotatably supported upon a shaft, 50, having a bearing, 51, in the disc, 24. `On the` lowerv end of the shaft, 50, is mounted a collar, 52, to retain the parts in position on the shaft. .Between the collar, 52, and the surface J `ncations of this invention may be .made Withand wish to be protected by Letters Patent is 1. In a display device a strip having matter to be displayed, spools to support and ac'tuate the strip and di'ving means therefor in combination with stationary spindles to support said spools rotatable sleeves on the spindles rotated by the driving means, ches between the spools and sleeves and means responsive to 'tho movements of the strip to adjust the clutches in eiiective and ineffective positions.

2. In a display device, a support, a spool rotatably supported near each end thereof, a strip wound on both spools, a driving device for the spools, a rotatable ratchet member carried by each spool between each spool and the device, an armcontinuously driven by said driving device to normally engagemember, and means under control of the direction of travel of said strip to adjust said arm in eitctive inedective positions with reference to said member.

3. In a display device a support, a spool at each end thereof, a strip wound on bothy spools, a driver for both spools, each spool including a drum upon which the strip is wound, a stationary spindle held by saidsupport upon which the spool is supported, a sleeve on the spindle rotated by the driver, a clutch between the drum and the sleeve, and means responsive to the direction of rotation of the sleeve to control said clutch, to connect and disconnect the drum from the sleeve.

i. .A device for displaying advertisements and the like, having a casing, a window the same, a pair of spools, a pair oi stationary supports for the spools within said casing,y a reversible driving means for the spools, including rotatable membersl on said supports ior the spools, means for driving said members, an adjustable clutch between eachspool and its rotatable member, a device for each spool to control each clutch. and strip, wound on the spools and movingr therewith to display matter thereon through window, effective through its movement to adjust clutch controlling device into operative and inoperative positions.

5. A device for displaying advertisements and the like including a casing having window in the side thereof, a pair ci; spaced spools rotatably supported Within said casing, a pair oi reversible dri ing supports for said motor to rotate saidspool supports, ring ccnneoting the motor to the spool supports, means i cluding clutches Abetween the spools and driving supports effective to connect the ternately to their respective and a 1 display strip, actuated by said spools in 31.' position with said Window, effectie to adjust clutch into operative and inoperative positions and control the driving supports.

o. A display device having a containing casing in combination with a display strip, a of strip supporting spools rotatable supports to detachably support the spools, driving mean:y for the spool supports, and strip, antoLV1 atie vcrsing means to rotate both spool supporti simultaneously and means under control oi the strip effective to detach alternately each spool from its support and control said reversing means.

7. In a display device the combination of a containing casing, a strip to travel therein and a motor toactuate the strip, witha pair of spools to support said strip, a pair of driving' d rotatable independently thereof, responsive to id motor, automatic reversing means for ol oi toe strip effective to control said ree' means to determine which spool is to en by its support.

a display device the combination of a e' -a strip, having matter to be displayed between. the `motor and the spools, a ettable clutch mounted on each spool between and the spool effective to drive the amc movement of the strip eilective to select en -..rol motor responsive to said movevnate-ly into effective andineiieotive positions and means to control said motorv reversing means responsive to saiddirection ci travel of the strip.y

lo. In a display device a traveling,r strip hav-- ing matter to be displayed, selectable driving rotatable. supports including a spool to drive stripan automatic reversible driving device to actuate said supports permanently connected thereto and common to both supports means mounted Within said spool responsive to the ends of the strip eiective to determine the direction of rotation of said supports and means to select the support to drive the strip.

il, In a display device, a travelingfstrip having matter to be displayed, spools to support and actuate the strip, a motor for driving said spools, an adjustable clutch mechanism. carried by each spoolA to connect the same with the icluding means mounted in each spool to adju t the clutch mechanism in edective and inefective positions,responsive to the direction of travel of the strip and means to simultaneously reverse the direction of rotation ofthe motor when the strip has ended its travel.

l2. In a display device, a traveling strip, spools support and actua-tothe same, a support for eac-li spool, a clutch between each spool and its si eport, a reversible motor for driving said fols, each spool having an mounted thereto control said motor, resilient means normally holding arm outside the contour Yof the spool, the strip, effec ive when wound on the spool, to hold said arm within said spool and means engaged by the` when' the latter is outside the spool, at the end of travel of the strip, to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor and simultaneously .control the effectiveness of said clttohes.

3. In display device a traveling strip, spools to hold and actuate the same, disconnectible 'ibers for said spools .supporting the same,

means carried by the spools responsive set the clutch to drive the spools and means.

spools, a window in said casing K los ist

'ist Y driving supports for said spools, a driver for the supports, a reversing mechanism for the driver, means 'associatedwith each spool eiective to adjust said mechanism at the end oi travel of said strip to determine the direction of travel of the same and simultaneously control the effectiveness of said supports to drive the spools.

14. In a display device a traveling strip, spools to support and actuate the same, a driver for the spools, aiclutching means for connecting and disconnecting the driver from the spools, a direction of rotation reversing mechanism for the driver, an arm pivoted to each spool having outer and inner positions with reference thereto, effective in its outer position to engage said mechanism at the end of travel of said stripto determine the direction of its rotation and control said clutching means.

15, In a display' device the combination of a display strip mounted on spools, rotatable drivers for the spools and a reversibler driving means to rotate the spools yin either direction, with clutch members between the spools and drivers including a ratchet member on the spool and a vibratable arm, to engage therewith, pivoted on Y said driver, and means responsive to the direction of rotation oi the driver to vibrate said arm into effective .and ineffective positions with re-v clutch members between the spools and drivers.

including a ratchet Ymember on the spool and a vibratable arm, to engage therewith, `pivoted kon said driver, and gearing betweenthe arm and driver to vibrate said arm into effective and ineiective positions, with respect to said ratchet member, to control said drivers.

17. In a display device the combination of a display strip mounted on spools, rotatable drivers for the spools'and a reversible driving means to rotate the spools in either direction, with clutchmembers between the spools and drivers including a ratchet member on the spool and a vibratable arm, to engage therewith, pivoted on and held by frictional contact With said driver, and gearing between the arm and driver to vibrate said arm into eiective and ineiective positions, with respect to said ratchet member, to control said drivers.

18. In a display device the combination of a display strip mounted on spools and reversible driving means to rotate the spools, with clutch members between the spools and said driving means and means including a stationary member, responsive to the direction oi rotation of Vthe driving device to adjust said clutch members into effective and ineiective positions. v

19; In a display device the combination of a display strip mounted on spools, and reversible rotatable drivers for the spools, with clutch members, including a ratchet member and a vibratable arm to engage therewith, between the spools and drivers and means responsive to the direction of rotation of the drivers to vibrate said arm into effective and ineiTective positions with respect to said ratchet member, to control said drivers.

WALTER E. scHwANHAUssER. 

